My Weblog
Thursday, April 28, 2005
April 28: As you can tell from the river level report a horrible storm hit Monday night, and there was minor flooding in the area. It shot the river up 2000+ CFS, and has turned the river very muddy. I mean like won't catch a fish muddy. As you can tell from our reports we weren't booked Monday - Thursday this week, and will be taking our next two trips to the Private Lake. Hope this saves you from coming up and taking a float trip instead of a fish catching trip. Happy Mother's Day!!!
April 28: As you can tell from the river level report a horrible storm hit Monday night, and there was minor flooding in the area. It shot the river up 2000+ CFS, and has turned the river very muddy. I mean like won't catch a fish muddy. As you can tell from our reports we weren't booked Monday - Thursday this week, and will be taking our next two trips to the Private Lake. Hope this saves you from coming up and taking a float trip instead of a fish catching trip. Happy Mother's Day!!!
Monday, April 25, 2005
April 24: took longtime client Dike Dame (503-226-3545) on the river again today. It was 37 in Fossil, 46 at the river and the water was 51 degrees, 2750 CFS, 7-8 clarity, and very overcast. We launched at 8 AM and Dike caught the first fish at 8:12 AM, and then boated a nice Trophy 18" smallie right afterwards. He had 5 smallies by lunchtime. Dike is one of the better fishermen I take, and has the patience of Job. He knows that when the first tick comes from the fish to drop the rod immediately, and wait as long as possible and then see if they are there. It starts with the pickup, but doesn't count until you hook them and land'em. The smallies have been very edgy lately, and while they may like our baits and the Smelly Jelly and we play them for awhile they come off because they were on the tails of our baits and not at the hook. So, Dike's patience paid off with some nice fish today, and he landed a nice fat 17 1/2" at the takeout. He ended up with 10 smallies, and all were caught on Texas rigs fished on the bottom with lots of Smelly Jelly Craw/Anise mixed with Ultrabite Black Bass.
April 23: Dike's first day of two days. It was 46 in Fossil 50 at the river and the water was a warm 53 degrees, 2660 CFS, 6-7 clarity, and again very overcast. First fish at 8:55 AM on an Outlaw Baits 4" tube. Dike had 3 fish by lunch and ended up with 5 smallies. It was cool during the day from time to time and the water only warmed up to 54 degrees.
April 22: Took longtime client Terry Healy and his son Larry. Their first trip was back in 1995 and Larry caught a great 19 1/2" smallie and got his picture on the cover of Fishing and Hunting News. It was 44 in Fossil, 56 at the Private Largemouth Lake, and the water was 54 degrees there. Larry caught the first largmouth at 8:30 AM, and they ended up with 41 at lunch and 100 even at days end. Lrry endged out Terry with 54 largemouth, and we hooked but lost at the boat our first bluegill of the season. The river was "blown out", and we used our back up Plan - The Private Largemouth Lake. If you want to catch a lot of bass, and maybe an 8 pounder (STan Fagerstrom got one in 2003 with us), call us for a trip on this GREAT fishery.
April 19: Took a GREAT husband/wife team of John and Midge Geer. Some of you know them as J & M Embrodiery (541-763-2386). They have two computer embodiery machines, and can create also almost anything you want. Give them a call for hats, shirts, etc. Anyway, they're great fishermen too! The river was still too muddy to run a good trip so I took them to the Private Largemouth Lake, and did they ever hammer the fish. It was 34 degrees in Fossil, but very nice at the Lake, and they boated 80 largemouth by lunchtime. They ended up in a dead tie at 91 largemouth each for 182 largemouth. Boy was my thunb sore from unhooking that many fish. We use the Lake as a backup to our river trips, when we think the river may not produce anything. What a backup Plan!!
April 18: Linda and I took another GREAT husband/wife team of Darrell and Hyon Fielding who own the Fossil Motel (541-763-4075). They run a nice clean motel and give our clients a special rate ($35 for two people per night). It was 28 in Fossil, and river was very muddy. We went to the Private Largemouth Lake and it was 49 there with the water running 52 degrees, lake was very clear, and an overcast day. Darrell bought one of our trips at a local auction, and he and Hyon wanted Linda to go along. They ended up with 121 largemouth by the end of the day with Linda getting 50, Darrell 41, and Hyon boating 30. Lots of fish and a great time.
April 17: Took a GREAT Father/Son Team of Kim and Ben Sharon. Kim has Sharon Brother Creations (208-818-2063, or sharonbrothersglass@yahoo.com)which makes glassware and we use for prizes on Corporate Trips. It was 38 in Fossil, 42 at the river and the water was 48 degrees, 1764 CFS, 5-6 clarity. Ben caught the first fish at 7:40 AM and we had 5 fish by lunchtime. They ended up with 10 smallies, and some were quite small, hope the dinks aren't active yet (usually take 52 degree water to bring them on). They fished long and hard, but it was another tough day on the water.
April 16: Took Kim and Ben Sharon on the river today. It was 46 in Fossil, 47 at the river and the water was 48 degrees, 1840 CFS, 4-5 clarity. Kim caught the first fish at 7:35 and we had 5 fish by lunch and ended up the day with 10 smallies. They fished the bottom long and hard, and caught a catfish at lunchtime. Lots of weather changes and temperature changes during the day, and another tough day on the water.
Friday, April 22, 2005
April 13: Took two brothers, Gary and Pat Plautz, of Hillsboro area. They are great guys and worked in Alaska for about 20 years. Gary is now at Stevens Marine in the Service Department. It was 28 in Fossil, 41 at the river, and the water was 47 degrees, flowing 2210 CFS, overcast, and a 5-6 clarity. It was another tough day of fishing and the first fish didn't come till 11:05 to Gary's rod. They had 4 fish at lunch and ended up the day with 10 smallies. They weather fronts are coming through all day long and bring lots of cold wind with them.
April 12: Took friends Charles Beith and Doug Baker from Bend today. It was 38 in Fossil, 47 at the river with the water running 49 degrees, 2160 CFS, clear, 7-6 clarity. The first fish came on Charle's rod at 10:05, and they had 2 fish at lunch. They ended up the day with 10 smallies, and 51 degree water, and 54 degree air temp. We again were fishing with Texas rigs on the bottom, and getting pickups but not getting them on the hook.
April 11: Took friends Dan Ross and Tim Mufferbier (503-516-5423) of Oregon City, it was 49 in Fossil, 47 at the river and the water was 49 degrees, 2290 CFS, cloudy, and 4-5 clarity. Tim daught the first smallmouth at10:35 AM, and it was a Trophy 18 1/4" fish. We had 3 fish boated by lunchtime, and ended up the day with 9 smallies. The water temp rose to 50 in the afternoon and the air temp was 58 degrees. It was another tough day fishing with lots of frontal activity and air temperature changes of 10 degrees many times. They fished long and hard on the bottom with lots of Smelly Jelly Craw/Anise scent.
Sunday, April 10, 2005